GB2167330A

GB2167330A - Improvements in electric knives

Info

Publication number: GB2167330A
Application number: GB08521118A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Mcclean
Original assignee: Breville R&D Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Breville R&D Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1984-11-22
Filing date: 1985-08-23
Publication date: 1986-05-29
Also published as: FR2573335A1; GB8521118D0; DE3531108A1

Abstract

An electric knife handle (10) is shaped so that the power cord (15) can be wrapped around the handle in a longitudinal direction, there being provided at one end of the handle a slot (19) into which the cord is received when wrapped around the handle, a movable catch (20) being provided to open or close the slot (19) so that the cord can be wrapped around the handle and retained against unwrapping. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in electric knives The present invention relates to electric knives of the kind hereinafter referred to as "the kind set forth" comprising an elongated handle that serves as a container for a driving motor, a pair of blades projecting in an axial direction from the handle, the blades being releasably secured to a driving means connected to the motor in such a manner that the blades are reciprocated so as to move in sliding contact with each other, the blades having serrated cutting edges.

An electric knife of the kind set forth is described in the specification of Australian Patent 414,556. A variety of electric knives of the kind set forth are available on the market and all are contructed along essentially the same lines as the electric knife illustrated in the abovementioned specification.

A feature of all electric knives intended to be driven by mains and power is a power cord that enters the handle at some convenient point usually near one end and is connected to the driving electric motor. The disposal of the cord in a neat and convenient manner when the knife is not in use has presented difficulties and it is the object of present invention to provide a form of construction that achieves this object.

The present invention consists in an electric knife comprising an elongated handle that serves as a container for a driving motor, a pair of blades projecting in an axial direction from the handle, the blades being reieaseably secured to a driving means connected to the motor in such a manner that the blades are reciprocated so as to move in sliding contact with each other, the blades having serrated cutting edges characterised in that the elongated handle is shaped to receive a power cord extending from the handle wrapped around the handle in a longitudinal direction, the handle including a slot at one end adapted to accommodate portions of the wrapped-on power cord, movable catch means being associated with the slot, said catch means being movable between positions in which it closes or leaves open an opening at one end of the slot so that when said opening is closed the power cord is prevented from becoming unwound from the handle.

In order that the nature of the invention may be better understood a preferred form thereof is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an electric knife according to the invention supported on a wall bracket and; Figure 2 is a side view thereof.

The electric knife consists of a handle 10 containing an electric motor (not shown) which is shaped in a manner that makes it convenient for holding in the hand. The handle is shown supported on a wall bracket 11 by means of support arms 12 projecting from the bracket. The handle is supported by means of blade ejectors 13 projecting from the side of the handle. These enable the blades 14 which are shown supported separately on the bracket 11 to be removed from the knife.

The features of constructions described above are largely conventional, the present invention being concerned with the shaping of the handle in such a manner that a power cord 15 may be wound around the handle longitudinally and secured in position. This is effected by shaping the upper end of the handle as shown in the drawings so that its upper surface 16 is concave terminating in upward projections 17 and 18 at each end. As shown in the drawings the cord 15 is accommodated in the concavity of the portion 16 and passes over the ends of the ejectors 13 which act to space the cord away from the handle in such a manner that with the cord wound around it the handle may be engaged with the arms 12 of the wall bracket 11.

The power cord 15 is accommodated at the other end of the handle by means of the slot 19. As shown in Fig. 2 this slot is closed by the slidable latch 20. The length of the power cord 15 is chosen so that when wound around the handle the electrical connector 21 is in close proximity to the handle leaving only a very short portion of the cord projecting from the handle.

When it is decided to remove the power cord from the handle the latch 20 is moved to the left (as in Fig. 2) thus opening the slot 19 and enabling the power cord to be unwound.

The construction described above provides a very neat and convenient way of accommodating the power cord when the knife is not in use and the provision of a latch ensures that the cord cannot become accidently unwound.

1. An electric knife comprising an elongated handle that serves as a container for a driving motor, a pair of blades projecting in an axial direction from the handle, the blades being releaseably secured to a driving means connected to the motor in such a manner that the blades are reciprocated so as to move in sliding contact with each other, the blades having serrated cutting edges characteristised in that the elongated handle is shaped to receive a power cord extending from the handle wrapped around the handle in a longitudinal direction, the handle including a slot at one end adapted to accommodate portions of the wrapped-on power cord, movable catch means being associated with the slot, said catch means being movable between positions in which it closes or leaves open an opening

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in electric knives The present invention relates to electric knives of the kind hereinafter referred to as "the kind set forth" comprising an elongated handle that serves as a container for a driving motor, a pair of blades projecting in an axial direction from the handle, the blades being releasably secured to a driving means connected to the motor in such a manner that the blades are reciprocated so as to move in sliding contact with each other, the blades having serrated cutting edges. An electric knife of the kind set forth is described in the specification of Australian Patent 414,556. A variety of electric knives of the kind set forth are available on the market and all are contructed along essentially the same lines as the electric knife illustrated in the abovementioned specification. A feature of all electric knives intended to be driven by mains and power is a power cord that enters the handle at some convenient point usually near one end and is connected to the driving electric motor. The disposal of the cord in a neat and convenient manner when the knife is not in use has presented difficulties and it is the object of present invention to provide a form of construction that achieves this object. The present invention consists in an electric knife comprising an elongated handle that serves as a container for a driving motor, a pair of blades projecting in an axial direction from the handle, the blades being reieaseably secured to a driving means connected to the motor in such a manner that the blades are reciprocated so as to move in sliding contact with each other, the blades having serrated cutting edges characterised in that the elongated handle is shaped to receive a power cord extending from the handle wrapped around the handle in a longitudinal direction, the handle including a slot at one end adapted to accommodate portions of the wrapped-on power cord, movable catch means being associated with the slot, said catch means being movable between positions in which it closes or leaves open an opening at one end of the slot so that when said opening is closed the power cord is prevented from becoming unwound from the handle. In order that the nature of the invention may be better understood a preferred form thereof is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an electric knife according to the invention supported on a wall bracket and; Figure 2 is a side view thereof. The electric knife consists of a handle 10 containing an electric motor (not shown) which is shaped in a manner that makes it convenient for holding in the hand. The handle is shown supported on a wall bracket 11 by means of support arms 12 projecting from the bracket. The handle is supported by means of blade ejectors 13 projecting from the side of the handle. These enable the blades 14 which are shown supported separately on the bracket 11 to be removed from the knife. The features of constructions described above are largely conventional, the present invention being concerned with the shaping of the handle in such a manner that a power cord 15 may be wound around the handle longitudinally and secured in position. This is effected by shaping the upper end of the handle as shown in the drawings so that its upper surface 16 is concave terminating in upward projections 17 and 18 at each end. As shown in the drawings the cord 15 is accommodated in the concavity of the portion 16 and passes over the ends of the ejectors 13 which act to space the cord away from the handle in such a manner that with the cord wound around it the handle may be engaged with the arms 12 of the wall bracket 11. The power cord 15 is accommodated at the other end of the handle by means of the slot 19. As shown in Fig. 2 this slot is closed by the slidable latch 20. The length of the power cord 15 is chosen so that when wound around the handle the electrical connector 21 is in close proximity to the handle leaving only a very short portion of the cord projecting from the handle. When it is decided to remove the power cord from the handle the latch 20 is moved to the left (as in Fig. 2) thus opening the slot 19 and enabling the power cord to be unwound. The construction described above provides a very neat and convenient way of accommodating the power cord when the knife is not in use and the provision of a latch ensures that the cord cannot become accidently unwound. CLAIMS

1. An electric knife comprising an elongated handle that serves as a container for a driving motor, a pair of blades projecting in an axial direction from the handle, the blades being releaseably secured to a driving means connected to the motor in such a manner that the blades are reciprocated so as to move in sliding contact with each other, the blades having serrated cutting edges characteristised in that the elongated handle is shaped to receive a power cord extending from the handle wrapped around the handle in a longitudinal direction, the handle including a slot at one end adapted to accommodate portions of the wrapped-on power cord, movable catch means being associated with the slot, said catch means being movable between positions in which it closes or leaves open an opening at one end of the slot so that when said opening is closed the power cord is prevented from becoming unwound from the handle.

2. An electric knife as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end of the handle opposite said one end is shaped concavely to receive and retain portions of the wrapped-on power cord.

3. An electric knife as claimed in claim 1 wherein the movable catch means is in the form of a slidable latch.

4. An electric knife substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.